Rorty - No Mind-Independent Reality

[Terrapin Station]

Because it's possible that it will be found. One's belief could turn out to be wrong.

On what evidence (none whatsoever!) do you believe that evidence WILL be found?

Believing it's possible that it will be found is different than believing that it will be found.

[Skepdick]

If the evidence is the needle, no difference. If the evidence is a consequence of it, then it's finding something connected to it instead.

What sort of consequence of a needle do you expect to find in a haystack?

[Skepdick]

Believing it's possible that it will be found is different than believing that it will be found.

The word "possible" is a red herring.

Try again.

[Terrapin Station]

If the evidence is the needle, no difference. If the evidence is a consequence of it, then it's finding something connected to it instead.

What sort of consequence of a needle do you expect to find in a haystack?

None. I'm not talking just about a needle in a haystack.

[Terrapin Station]

Believing it's possible that it will be found is different than believing that it will be found.

The word "possible" is a red herring.

Try again.

Why would it be a red herring?

[Skepdick]

None. I'm not talking just about a needle in a haystack.

You are lying. The conversation is ONLY about the scenario which both of us have agreed to.

Don't be moving goal posts now.

[Terrapin Station]

None. I'm not talking just about a needle in a haystack.

You are lying

lol from the person always talking about charity. Be serious or I'm not bothering with this any longer.

[Skepdick]

lol from the person always talking about charity. Be serious or I'm not bothering with this any longer.

It's incredibly uncharitable to shift the goal posts.

Bow out, like the bullshitter you are. Same as all Philosophers.

[Terrapin Station]

lol from the person always talking about charity. Be serious or I'm not bothering with this any longer.

It's incredibly uncharitable to shift the goal posts.

Bow out, like the bullshitter you are. Same as all Philosophers.

How is it shifting goalposts?

[Skepdick]

How is it shifting goalposts?

Attempting to re-frame the discussion from the particular to the general.

How is it not?

[Terrapin Station]

How is it shifting goalposts?

Attempting to re-frame the discussion from the particular to the general.

How is it not?

Talking about possibility is shifting it from particular to general?

[Skepdick]

Talking about possibility is shifting it from particular to general?

Looks like you are keeping your gold medal.

[Terrapin Station]

Talking about possibility is shifting it from particular to general?

Looks like you are keeping your gold medal.

Ah-- I missed a post; I wasn't even reading what you were quoting. Why didn't you answer why "possible" would be a red herring? That's what I thought your replies were addressing.

[Terrapin Station]

Re saying that I'm lying about not just talking about a needle in a haystack--so you think I was literally just talking about that instead of taking it to just be an example?

If you wanted to just talk about literal needles in haystacks for some reason then sure, I misread that. If we're literally talking about needles in haystacks then I don't care either way. Couldn't care less if there's a needle in it, I'm not going to be looking for one, etc.

[Skepdick]

Re saying that I'm lying about not just talking about a needle in a haystack--so you think I was literally just talking about that instead of taking it to just be an example?

If you wanted to just talk about literal needles in haystacks for some reason then sure, I misread that. If we're literally talking about needles in haystacks then I don't care either way. Couldn't care less if there's a needle in it, I'm not going to be looking for one, etc.

It's a thought experiment about predicting one's own behaviour.

You could apply it to anything which you are pursuing for which you presently lack evidence of existence.

Cure for cancer/alzheimers.
Theory of everything in physics.
World peace.

Pick your example. You are still unable to account for the lack of causal behaviour between one's beliefs and one's actions.